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(No Model.)

1?. VANDERNOTH.

SELF OPENING LID FOR GABINETS, 6:0. I No. 326,810. I Patented Sept. 22,1885.

Irwntor:

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PETER VANDERNOTH, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

SELF-OPENING LID FOR CABINETS, 8.1.0.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,810, datedSeptember 22, 1835.

Application filed July 2.9, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, PETER VANDERNOTH, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-OpeningLids for Inclosed \Vash- Stands, Cabinets, Pianos, 810.; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the lids or hinged covers of cabinets, iceboxes,wash-stands, pianos, and other pieces of furniture, and has for itsobject an automatic opening of the lid when required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspectlve of acabinet wash stand having my invention applied thereto,and Fig. 2 is acentral vertical section thereof with the inner plate or lining of thecasing at the end of the wash-stand removed to disclose the weight andspring therein.

A represents an inclosed wash-stand (or other piece of furniture)provided with a hinged lid, B, to cover and close the top thereof. Ateach end of the lid and to its inner face segmental side pieces, 0 G,are secured to project therefrom in position to drop immediately withinthe ends of the stand when the lid is closed. The lower edge of eachsegmental plate projects at a right angle with the lid, so that when thelid is closed this edge will rest against the inner face of the back ofthe stand. I

Friction rollers or pulleys D are mounted to rotate upon stud-pinsprojecting within the stand at its inner front corners. Each roller isthus immediately in front of the end of the lower edge of each segmentalside plate, 0, when the lid is raised.

A cord, E, carrying a weight, F, is led over each pulley and attached tothe end of the lower edge ofthe segmental side plate, as illustrated inFig. 2, the weight being made to move up and down in the corner of thestand as the lid is lowered or raised. The gravity of these weightstends automatically to throw up thelid by reason of the tension producedthereby upon the cords E E, operating to draw upward and outward theends of the side plates, 0 C, of the lid to which they are attached.

\Vhen the lid is closed,-itis kept in position and the elevated weightsare upheld by means of a rotating or other suitable spring-catch, G,fitted to the front of the case to engage a catchplatc, G, on the lid.

So soon as by a movement of the catch Gthe lid is set free, it will,under the influence of the weights F, automatically fly open. To obtaina quicker movement of the lid in open ing when it is liberated from itscatclnlinsert a flat spring, H, at the back of the case on the innerside in position to be engaged and compressed by the inner or lower edgeof each side plate, 0, when the lid is closed. (See dotted lines, Fig.2.) These springs are thus made to come into play to assist in overcoming the dead-weight 0r inertia of the lid when its catch is released,the movement of the lid being completed by means of the weights, asdescribed.

The weights and springs are concealed with in the narrow compartments,partitioned off by inner side plates or boards, L, (see Fig. 1,) at eachend of the case.

In the use of my invention, when it is desired to open the cabinet, asimple movement of the catch G, by releasing the lid,wil1 permit thesprings H and weights Fto come into play. The springs will at once, inconnection with the weights,operate to raisethe closedlid, and theweights, which at the start work at a disadvantage i'rom want ofleverage upon the side plates of the lid, will, when the lid hasstarted, complete its movement and throwit wide open. The cords E E,asthelid is closed, are held in proper position upon the curved edge ofeach side plate, 0, of the lid by means of a groove cut in the face ofsaid edge to partially inclose the cord.

It is evident that an arm orskeleton bracket projecting at right angleswiththe lid from its inner side may be substituted for the solidsegmental side plates, 0 O, constructed as shown and described, for thepurpose of en gaging the cords E E, but the segmental side plates arepreferred, as they serve the double purpose of neatly inclosin g the topof the stand when the lid is open.

In applying my invention to piano-lids, if the lid is to be opened verywide the weights may be made to pass down within the frontlegsnnadehollow for the purpose. Ordinarily,

however, it is not required to raise the lid far, and sufficient roomwill be found within the case for the weights.

I claim as my invention- 5 1. The combination,with a hinged lid, B, ofan inclosed stand or case, and with an arm or lateral plate, 0,projecting therefrom, of a weight, F, and cord E, attached to the outerend of said arm or plate and led over a'pulley,

to D, rotating on a stud secured to the inner side of the stand or case,and'a catch, G, engaging said lid when closed,substantiallyin the mannerand for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the hinged lid of I5 an inclosed stand or case,and with an arm or lateral plate, 0, projecting therefrom, a cord,

E, attached to its outer end, led over a pulley,

D, and carrying a weight, F, and a catch, G, engaging the lid, of aspring, H, fixed on the inner side of the stand or case to be compressed20 by the arm or plate 0 when the lid is closed, substantially in themanner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 25 two subscribing witnesses.

' PETER VANDERNOTH.

Witnesses:

P. ELBERT NOSTRAND, A. B. MooRE.

